Forecasting Connor McDavid’s 2018-19

Can you imagine what last year’s team would have looked like without Connor McDavid?

Me neither. I don’t even want to begin to think about it. The Oilers missed the playoffs by nearly 20 points in 2017-18, the thought of them not having their superstar centre who led the league in scoring with them sounds like a crime scene.

Since that fateful afternoon in 2015 when the lottery balls dropped just perfectly, the Oilers have bee lucky to have one of the top prospects in the league in over 30 years. That prospect has delivered in every way, shape and fashion possible. Connor McDavid is arguably the best player in the league today. I think it’s a short argument, but at the conclusion of his third NHL season, there’s no stopping Connor McDavid. The Oilers are Connor McDavid. Connor McDavid is the Oilers. There’s no two ways to separate these facts.

Since being drafted three years ago, McDavid has done everything you could possibly have hoped for and more. He’s scored 256 career points (87-169-256) in 209 career games, he’s led the Oilers to their only playoff berth in twelve years in 2016-17. He’s a back-to-back Art Ross Trophy Winner. Fortunately for the Oilers, they’ve got him for eight more years after he signed an eight year 100MM deal last summer.

2017-18

There isn’t enough space on the Internet to properly articulate how important McDavid was to the Oilers in 2017-18.

Was there any way that McDavid could outdo his 100 point season from 2016-17? Short answer: yes. Add eight more points onto that number, now add in a revolving door of right wings. When the Oilers dealt Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome in the 2017 offseason, they created a pretty big void on the top line that was filled by many, but never quite This year, McDavid might play alongside one of Ty Rattie, Jesse Puljujarvi, Tobias Rieder, Kailer Yamamoto or Drake Caggiula. Maybe one of those players will stick for a while. I’m not sure that it matters for 97.

McDavid heads into 2018-19 with his second Art Ross trophy in as many years. He’ll no doubt try to score all the points he possibly can, but what does that look like? With the lack of significant upgrades to the top six (save for maybe Tobias Rieder), is it even possible for him to score more than he’s already scoring? Can he make it three seasons in a row with 100+ points? Can he do something more? Is 115 points out of the question?

I don’t think there’s any wrong answer. Does he have any more gears?